Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-03-29
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Renaissance of the Civil
War.
[From the Baltimore Sun. ]

Messrs. Il. S. AbeH Dc Co. Hay
ing lately noticed letters in the col
umns of the Sun recalling war incl
dents in the life of Major +" Jim"
Breathed, it has occurred to me to
mention one among the many of this
gallant soldier that came under my
personal observation.
Major Breathed was pre-eminently
soldier of the sanguine type, brave,
dashing. and always certain of vic
tory, which latter characteristic was
probably due to his fine soldierly
qualities, for he seemed to measure
all about and under him by his own
high standing, and had no conception
of defeat. so when he retreated he did
SO by order of his superior officer,
and not by force of the enemy.
1t was at Yellow Tavern, where the
immortal Stuart fell, that Breathed
enacted the incident here related
Gen. Stuart had hastily thrown into
line of march few fragmentary reg
iments of cavalry, with Breathed's
battery, and left Lees army near
Spottsylvania Court House, and
pressed toward Richmond to inter
cept Sheridan, then raiding toward
the Confederate capital with twelve
thousand cavalry. After repeated
encounters Stuart finally reached
Sheridan's front at Yellow Tavern,
and gave him battle, but proved no
match fer his superior numbers
Col. Vim. A. Morgan, commanding
the First Regiment of Virginia Cav
airy; held the right of the line with q
mounted squadron, which at that mo-
ment was the only organized troops
upon the field. Gen. Stuart ordered
this squadron to move around briskiy
to the Yellow Tavern road When
we reached the road : Inst t.snss.s /, {
Breathed s. men coming cut of the
engagement, many of them hatless
and bleeding from sabre cuts, while
others were gesticulating wildly and
crying aloud that they had lost their
dear commander, Major Breathed.
As the squadron moveden TO thefoot
of a small hill, where the road curved
to the left, we saw lone horseman
in full speed coming down the hill
toward us, waving over his head a
sabre broken in the middle, and as he
drew near a mighty shout went up,
for it was the brave Major, whom we
had just been told was killed and left
upon the field. We were now as
cehding the hill, and as lie reached
the head Of our column, although
bleeding from wounds and with only
a broken sabre in his hand, he
wheeled into position in the front
rank of the squadron and appealed
to the always cool and fearless Nor
gan to charge and recapture his guns.
When we reached the crest of the
hill Gen. Stuart rode UP and gave to
Col. Morgan probably his last COM
n1and on the field of battle, which was
to make counter charge upon bri-
gade of the enemy then charging
down the road, and if possible hold
them in check until he could with
draw over the bridge to Chickahomi-
ny river.
It was in this charge that the brave
and soldierly Capt. Kirk Hammond.
of Berkeley county, Va, and whose
name deserves to be written high
upon the Confederate roll of honor,
fell from his horse mortally wounded,
and died on the following day at
farmhouse near by. 1t was my pain
ful privilege to see this excellent Off
Ger fall. then raise himself dpon his
hands to watch the result of the
charge, and then at the recoil TO draw
himself closely to the earth, fully con-
scious of his impending danger of be-
ing trampled to death under the hoof
of the charging column.
Major Breathed was confessedly n
worthy successor to the intrepid Pei
ham, and it may be said that the ar
tillery arm of the cavalry was more
than fortunate in the possession of
two such names as Pelham and
Breathed. Recitals of the Majors
exploits upon the field and in battle
were of common occurrence around
the campfire, and it was often related
how he escaped on that memorable
day at Yellow Tavern, when he had
been left upon the field and supposed
to be dead. 1t was said that after he
IShN bCGu olIuCh mum HIS HOI Sc Lbt
enemy gaining that part of the field,
rode over and about him. thinking him
dead; but having only been stunned
he soon recovered consciousness, and
instantly taking in the situation. and
espying a Federal officer well mount
ed near by. he sprang to his feet, and
selling a sabre which he saw upon the
ground, rushed upon the officer and
dealt him a blow, which broke the
sabre, but unseated his man, and
leaping into the saddle rode ont and
created the incident attempted TO be
described in this letter.
j. Fl. GRIMES, NJ. d.
First Regiment of Virginia Cavalry.
25g Maryland ave-, Baltimore, Md
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